Birthday Books & THUG Winner

Two pieces of awesome news all wrapped up into one little parcel for you all today!
For those of you who didn’t know, Sunday April 15th was my 26th birthday and I got some really lovely presents including lots of books which I obviously have to share with you all. But first, something even more exciting – announcing the winner of my signed copy of THUG!

The Hate U Give Giveaway Winner

It took a little while to dig out a legitimate winner underneath all of those spam giveaway accounts, but the first name that was randomly selected ended up being Kathy from Books & Munches. I’m so pleased that my copy will be going to a loving home with Kathy who I know will treasure it ❤

Thanks so much to all of you who followed me either on here, followed me on Twitter + tweeted about the giveaway, and/or friended me on Goodreads! This is the first ever giveaway I’ve hosted before and I’d love to do another one for you all soon. Maybe when (if) I ever reach 500 followers!

Birthday Books and Trip

This is the first year where I truly feel like my friends & family caved in and got me lots of books which has made my little heart so happy! My partner has always been worried about buying me too many books (as if there’s such a thing) and nothing else but after I persuaded him that that would just make me happy he ended up giving me books this year :’) One amazing present he did get me though which wasn’t book related was 2 tickets for a behind the scenes tour of the London Aquarium. I love all kinds of animals, apart from insects or animals I am afraid of, and haven’t been to the aquarium for many years so it was such a nice treat. In addition to seeing all the aquarium had to offer it meant we also got to go behind the scenes to see some of the aquarium’s quarantine tanks for new arrivals, babies and holiday tanks!

It was really educational being able to see how the aquarium is actually run. As someone who works with animals for my job, I know how much work goes into caring for those animals even if you don’t always spot it on the surface. It was such a great day out and I learned so much about sea life ❤

Before I go on to share my wonderful gifts with you all, I just wanted to say thank you so much to everyone for wishing me a happy (belated) birthday and to anyone who bought me any gifts. Birthdays and Christmas can be quite tough for me as I am estranged from most of my family. Although I try to focus on the positives, there are times when the sadness does creep in so I’m always mega thankful to all of you lovely people for helping to give me a good time on those special days.

As I said before, I got soooooo many good booksthis year for which I’m always thankful for! My partner bought me a stunning version of The Iliad where the edges of the pages are all textured to look old and The Mortal Instruments book set. My mum got me The City of Strife by Claudia Arseneault which I am SO FREAKING EXCITED to read – if you don’t know anything about it then please, please check out it’s Goodreads page, and The Last of the Wine by Mary Renault which I have been eagerly eyeing up on my wishlist for the past month now. Another book that I got which I am screaming about is Everfair by Nisi Shawl which I got from Erin and to whom I am so thankful to for getting me something for my birthday – thank you so much once again Erin ❤

My partner also got me these adorable pin badges which I am in love with, especially the Eevee one. I’ve been super envious of people with their cute badges but have always felt anxious about wearing the type of ones I want to. This is the year of not giving a damn though and owning whatever I want.

He also got me some really nice fineliners for my bullet journal, after he successfully stole and then lost all of my previous ones, a beautiful Ari & Dante bookmark, and ordered me the Whimsical Journey’s April Fairyloot box, which will be my first ever book box I’ve received. I can’t wait to share it all with you when it finally arrived!

My partner and my two best friends jointly bought me this AMAZING STARDEW VALLEY GUIDEBOOK which I cannot stop thinking about. It’s got all these super cute illustrations in it and useful info to help me run my farm properly. My best friends also ordered me a copy of Circe which I can’t wait for. I have been patient for the past 4 months and I am done with being patient, I can’t wait for it to be in my hands sooooon.

Thanks! This is the first year where I haven’t bothered with a party (they always ended in tears) and banned my mum from seeing me on my actual birthday (see first reason) so I think doing a little trip is the magic ticket!

Happy belated birthday, Avery 💕 Looks like you had a lovely day, that aquarium tour sound amazing! I might have to look into getting tickets the next time I go to London. City of Strife looks really good, adding it to my tbr! I hope Circe lives up to your expectations 🙂

Whiiiiiiiiiiiii; I’m still so stoked about winning your giveaway. 😀
Sooo happy you got so many books! My friends don’t have the.. well.. balls to since they always react with “Seriously dude, you have like tons of books and then you expect us to know which ones you don’t have yet?” But I have a wishlist? “Oh.. but.. we’ll find you something else since you’ll probably get tons of books already!” Like, NO? Even my mom refused to get me books.. 😛 Although my boyfriend totally made it up for Christmas since he gave me a budget and let me loose in a bookstore. That was my biggest haul ever. :’)

My mum used to be notoriously awful for ignoring my wishlist and getting me other stuff she thought would be better for me… inevitably things I didn’t want/didn’t like, so this year she seems to have learned to stick to the list! To be fair I did also put book badges, bookmarks and a game on it but they all got the books :’) (not that I’m complaining)